Ladder.



No. 802,017. PATENTED 001". 17, 1905.

F. T. NEWTON.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.15.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

No. 802,017. PATENTED OCT. 17, 1905.

' F. T. NEWTON.

/ LADDER.

1 APPLICATION rrLnD 111111.15. 1904.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

fwy W 1 UNITE STATES ggunr OFFICE.

FRANK T. NEWTON, OF YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN S. HAGGERTY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed March 15, 1904. Serial No. 198,284.

. Improvements in Ladders,of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in step and extension ladders; and

the invention consists in the construction of a ladder in which one part is slidingly engaged with the other part or which may be adjusted at an angle thereto, with guides, braces, and stops for the two sections in their various adjusted positions.

The invention further consists in the peculiar construction,arrangement, and combination of the various parts, as more fully hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved ladder, showing parts in position for extension, but not extended. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of thelower end of one of the side bars of the outer section. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the guide-block at the lower end of the inner section. Fig. 4 is a cross-section on line 7 Fig. 1. Fig. 5isa perspective view of the upper. end of the side bars of the inner and outer sections in the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of'one of the plates secured to the upper end of the outer section. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the guide-plate in which the side bars of the inner section slide. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the parts shown in Fig. 5, showing the ladder adjusted for the use of the step-ladder. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the locking-bracket. Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are vertical sections through the rounds of the ladder, showing the extensionsection and lock in different positions.

A is the outer section, and B is the inner section. These sections are composed of the usual side bars and rounds, and the inner section is slightly narrower than the outer section, so that its side bars will slide inside the side bars of the outer section. At the outer end of the side bars of the outer section are the plates O, which have in them the apertures a, in which apertures the hinge-pins Z) on the guide-plates 0 are adapted to engage. The guide-plates 0 have on them the two guide flanges d, spaced sufiicient distance apart to allow the side barsof the inner section to engage and slide therein.

On the inner faces of the side bars of the outer section are the guide-slots 0, having an entering notch or slot 71,. On the outer side of the side bars of the inner section are the guide blocks i, having a flange or lug adapted toengage in the guide-slot 6, so as to guide the lower end of the inner section in its vertical movement when the same is extended or retracted when the ladder is used as an extension-ladder.

When the ladder is to be used as a step-ladder, the guide-lugs is arewithdrawn from the guide-slots c by disengaging them through the notches h. The two ladder-sections may now be turned at an angle to each other, as shown in Fig. 8, the guide-plates 0 turning with the inner section and rotating on the hinge-pins b. The inner section is prevented from disengagement from the guide-plate by means of a stop Z, secured to the outer face of the side bars of the inner section.

In order to stop the ladder-sections in their adjusted angular position, I arrange a flange m on the plate O, which is adapted to be struck by the ends of the inner section, as shown in Fig. 8, and this flange is angular, so that it will have a bearing on the side and end of the inner section, as plainly shown in Fig. 8.

When it is desired to use the ladder as an extension-ladder, the guide-lugs is are engaged through the notches it and in the guide-slot 0. Then the upper end of the inner section is guided between the flanges (Z of the guideplates 0, and the lower end is guided by the lugs k, running in the slot 0.

In order to lock the ladder at any desired point of adjustment, I use the construction shown particularly in Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12. D is a rock-shaft journaled in the side bars of the inner section. To this rock-shaft are secured the two locking-brackets E, depending from the rock-shaft and having at the lower ends the cross-bar F. On one side of the cross-bar is the hook F, and at the other side of the cross-bar is the arm G, to the lower end of which is pivoted the latch G, as shown in Fig. 9. On one side of one of these l0cking brackets is the lug H, having a slot m theretlirough', through which is adapted to pass a rope or cable I, secured at one end to the eye 0 on the lower round of the inner section and passing through the sheave J on the upper round of the outer section and down again to the eye 0' on the lower round of the inner section, forming a closed loop. The rope passes inside the rounds of the inner section.

The operation of this device is as follows: The parts being in position, as shown in Fig. 1, if the operator lifts the inner section it will slide through the guides d, and the lugs Z; at the lower end will slide in the guidegroove 6. The tension of the rope or cable 1, bearing on the lug H, will act as a spring to cause the rock-shaft D to be rocked inwardly and will thereby lock the lower end of the brackets E in against the rounds of the outer section. The inner face of these brackets is inclined, as shown at s, so that in moving the bracket past one of the rounds it will be forced outward, as shown in Fig. 10, until it passes above the round, when the tension of the rope will swing it inward again and swing the cross-bar F and its hook F above the round of the outer section, as shown in Fig. 11. When the desired degree of extension has been obtained, the operator allows the inner section to lower by gravity, and it will be held in this position by the locking-brackets engaging the round of the outer section, as shown in Fig. 11. When it is desired to lower the ladder, the operator slightly raises the inner section until the latch G is above the round of the outer section, and then in lowering it the latch striking against the round will close and hook, as shown in Fig. 12, and cause the locking-brackets to pass the round in their downward movement without engaging therewith. This construction is a simple and easily-manufactured device and one also which is easily adjusted for its various uses and easily understood by the purchaser.

I prefer to engage the rope with the eye r by means of the snap-hook, as shown at K, and I also provide an eye L on the lower round of the outer section, with which the snap-hook may be engaged when the ladder is opened for use as a step-ladder.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination of the outer and an inner ladder-section, a plate having a hooked pin forming a detachable pivotal engagement with the inner faces of the side bars of the outer, section at the upper ends, having guide-flanges between which the side bars of the inner section engage, and means for guiding the lower end of the inner section on the side bars of the outer section.

2. The combination of the inner and outer ladder-sections, the plates (J on the upper end of the side bars of the outer section, and on the. inner face thereof having the hinge aperture (o, the guide-plate chavinga hooked pivotpin Z) loosely engaging the aperture 0 and having the guide-flanges (Z, the inner section havlng its side bars engaging between the guideflanges (Land means at the lower. end of the inner section and on the inner face of the outer section for guiding the lower end of the inner section.

3. The combination with the inner and outer ladder-sections, of means for guiding the lower end of the inner section on the outer section, of hinged guide-plates 0 at the upper ends of the outer section, having guide -flanges cl thereon between which the side bars of the inner section slide, plates C at the upper end of the outer section in which said guide-plate is detachably hinged through the mechanism of hooked pivot-pins thereon, the said pins, and flanges m extending inwardly from the plates C on the outer section to limit the angular movement of the sections in relation to each other.

4. The combination of inner and outer sections adapted to slide one in relation to the other, of a lock for holding the sections in their adjusted positions consisting of a rockshaft on the inner section, locking-brackets secured to the rock-shaft, a cross-bar F connected at its ends to downwardly-extended portions of the brackets, and a hook F on the inner end of said crossbar, and means engaging the brackets intermediate their ends for causing the same to normally swing into the paths of the rounds of the outer section.

5. The combination of the inner and outer ladder-sections, of a lock for holding the sections in their adjusted positions of extension, consisting of the rock-shaft D on the inner section, the locking-brackets E on the rockshaft, the cross-bar'F on the brackets, and hooks F, and a rope or cable I, looped around the rounds of the ladder-section, and having a bearing on the locking-brackets to cause the same to move inward into the path of the rounds of the outer section.

6. In an extension-ladder, the combination of the inner and outer sliding extensions, of the rock-shaft D on the inner section, downwardly-extended locking-brackets E on the rock-shaft having the cross-bar F and the hook F, of the finger G on the cross-bar at the opposite end of the hook, the latch G pivoted to the finger, and independent means engaging the brackets intermediate their ends for rocking the locking-brackets into the path of the rounds of the outer section.

7. In a ladder, the combination of the inner and outer sections, guides on the outer section in which the inner section slides telescopically, a lock on the inner section, a lug on the lock, means operatively associated with the lug for causing this look to successively engage the rounds of the outer section as the inner section is extended, and means for rendering said lock inoperative as the inner section is lowered.

8. The combination of inner and outer ladder-sections, of a lock for holding the sections .in their adjusted positions of extension, comprising a rock-shaft on the inner section, a In testimony whereoflaffix mysignature in locking-bracket 0n the shaft, a hook and an presence of two Witnesses.

engaging member on the bracket, and a rope FRANK T NEWTON or cable operatively connected with said engaging member of the locking-bracket to Witnesses:

cause the same to move into the path of the JAS. P. BARRY,

rounds of the outer section. H. 0. SMITH. 

